Operating mechanism for punch presses



Oct. 14, 1941. I J. MacBLANE d e l l .l F G N o I T A Y R E P O ym u.

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\ N mi I Il l .l .lldblllll PTH V r 5 n0 3 2 2 M Patented Oct. 14, 1941UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE OPERATING MEOHANISM FOR PUNCH PRESSES JamesMacBlane, Elmira Heights, N. Y., assgnor to Bendix AviationUCorporation, South Bend,- Ind., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 6, 1939, Seal No. 298,284

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to operating mechanism for punch pressesor the like and more particularly to a non-repeating trip actuatingdevice for the drive clutches of power presses. c Y

In applicants prior application Serial Number 209,751, iiled May 24,1938, there is disclosed a control system for punch presses so arrangedas to insure that both hands of the operator are in positions of safetybefore the press can be actuated. This is accomplished by actuating theclutch tripping mechanism by means of a solenoid controlled by two pushbuttons in series, which buttons are located at a safe distance awayfrom the press ram. l

The present invention relates particularly to an improved form ofconnection between the solenoid and the clutch tripping mechanismwhereby a single operation of the press is assured at each energizationof the solenoid irrespective of the length of time the energization ofthe solenoid isY maintained.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section of apreferred embodiment of the invention showing the parts in idleposition; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions assumedduring energization of the actuating solenoid, after release of thepress trip link.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a housing or box I of anysuitable type which may be mounted in any convenient position on theframe of a punch press, not illustrated.. A

" solenoid actuating device indicated generally by which is not subjectto wear or loss of adjustl mentover long periods of use.

It is another object to provide such a device which may be quickly andeasily adapted for continuous operation of the press, if desired, so

long as the hands of the operator are in positions of safety.

It is another object to provide such a device which is 'positive inaction and rigid in construction'so as to introduce no lost motion intothe linkage which operates the trip mechanism of the press and isaccordingly readily applicable to all types of presses. Y

It is another object to provide such a device which does not slow up theoperation of the press or interfere with the production thereof in anyway. y, i

numeral 2 is mounted Within the housing I in any suitable manner andcomprises a coil 3 and an armature 4 actuated thereby. A trip link forthe control clutch of the press is illustrated fragmentarily at 5, andis arranged to be actuated by the armature 4 of the solenoid uponenergization of the coil 3. For this purpose the link 5 is provided witha cylindrical terminal portion 6 which may, as illustrated, be in theform of an extension adjustably connected thereto and slidably mountedkin telescoping relation Within a cylindrical socket'l 'I formed in theupper end of a plunger or slide 8. The -lower end of the plunger isreduced in diameter as indicated at 9, forming a shoulder I I, and ispivotally connected as indicated at I2 to the armature 4.

The extension B of link 5 is provided with an annular recess or grooveI3, and the socket 'I of plunger 8 is provided with one or more recessesor openings I4 adapted to register with the recess I3 in the linkextension 6v when the members 6 and 'I are fully telescoped. Means areprovided for coupling these members together in such fully telescopedAposition in the form of balls I5 loosely tting in the openings I4 andarranged to project and t in the recess I3.

Locking means are provided for confining the balls I5 in couplingposition in the form of a j sleeve I 6 slidabl'y mounted on the exteriorof the socket 1 of plunger 8 and having an annular recess 'I adapted toloosely `lit over the projecting portions of balls I5, and providing aninclined shoulder I8 adapted to engage such ballsand skirt on the sleeveand here shown-as a hollowA cylinder 23, the upper portion of which isslotted as indicated at 2li and clamped asshownH-at 25 on the exteriorof the sleeve. 'lheskirt 'Z3-extends below the body portion of sleeveI'into against said extension upon re-engagement thereof, will notroughen the cylindrical bearing surface of the extension within thesocket 1.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it Will be understood that other embodiments arepossible and variousfchanges may be made in the design and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as de-',ined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

-` 1. In a tripoperating mechanism for power presses and the like, ahousing, a plunger slid- Y ably mounted therein, a trip actuating linktelescoped within the plunger having a peripheral recess, the plungerhaving an opening adapted juxtaposition with an abutment .member such asa washer 25 surrounding thereduc'ed portion!) of the plunger 8 andresting on the housing I.- YWhenthe skirt 23 engages theabutment member2 downward motionof the sleeve I6 is arrested, and further motion of theplunger 8 brings the balls I into registry with 'the recess 19in thesleeve whereby the balls are permitted tok move radially out of therecess I3 of the link extension and the latter is freed and allowed toreturn to its idle position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will beYunderstood that skirt 23 may be formed as a `part/of sleeve I6, but itis preferred to mount the `skirt adjustably on the sleeve 'I5 in orderto permit adjustment. of the stroke of the trip -link 5.

eans'for returningtljie plunger Iiv and its associated parts to idleposition` is provided in the YVform o f a"spring 2l bearing at its lowerend against the-abutment. member 26 and at its upper end againstI theshoulder Ii of plunger 8.

*A `In the operation of the device, energizationof the solenoid 3 by anysuitable means, not illustrated,` under the controlof theoperator'causes the armatureA to pull down the'plunger Y8 from ltheposition shown in Fig. Y1 to the position shown in.V Fig. `2QTherinitial motion pf plunger 8 is transmitted through balls`I`5-totheextension 6 of link 5 to actuate the tripping mechanism, not shown, ofthe press. When the skirt -23 of sleeve rI6 engages the abutment member26,' downward movement of the sleeve isA arrested, whereupon furtherdownward' movement of plungerV 8 carries the balls I 5 intoregistry'with recess I9, thus freeing the link 5 whichA returns to itsidle position. by virtue of the usual return spring for the punch presstrip link, notillustrated. The press is thus caused to be actuatedthrough one cycle fand is then'maintained inoperative -so long as thesolenoid 3 remains` energized.

1 `When the solenoid is deenergiz'ectrthe vplunger ,8 ,andfitsassociated parts are returned to their idlepositions, as illustrated inFig, 1, by means of the spring 21, the' balls I5 being forced into therecess I3 of the link `extension 6 by theinclinedshoulder I8 of sleeveIB when the balls come Yinto registry with said recess.

L" 1f, for any reason, it Ashould be desired to operate Athe presscontinuously so long as the solenoid Bis energized, it is merelynecessary to loosen the clamp 25 andmove the skirt 23 upwardly on thesleeve I6 until the skirt willnot engage the abutment member 2 6.H'I'Vhe coupling then acts as a solid connection and holds the trip linkV5 down Iso long as the solenoid 3 is energized.

Y it has been founddesirable to relieve the upper'edge of the recess I3in ythe link extension Ii'fas shownf at" 28 so that any slight upsettingf themetai dus to the tapping of the bans to register `with the recess,a coupling ball in the opening normally extending into the recess Atothereby hold the link in the plunger, a sleeve slidably mounted on theplunger having an inclinedV shoulder normally engaging the exterior ofthe coupling ball to wedge it in said recess and lock the sleeve,plunger and linkV for longitudinal movement in unison, said housingserving as a stop to arrest the movement of the sleeve at apredetermined point in its longitudinal movementand thereby free thecoupling ball andV release the link, yielding means on the plungerurging the sleeve toward locking position, means for applying tractionto the plunger, and yieldingY means for returning the plunger to idleposition. 2. In a trip operating mechanism for presses or the like, aslidable plunger'having a hollow cylindrical extension with a radialopening therethrough, a trip actuating link slidably telescoped in theplunger having an'annular recess, a ball seated in said opening andadapted to enter the recess when in registry therewith, a sleeveslidably mounted on said extension having an internal inclined shoulderadapted to engage the ball and wedge it into the, recess, locking thelink, plunger and sleeve for longitudinal movement in unison, and anannular recess adjacent the shoulder, yielding means on said extensionengaging the sleeve to press the shoulder against the ball, and anabutment engageable by the sleeve at the end of the stroke of the triplink to arrest the movement of the sleeve and thereby permit the ball toenter the recess in the sleeve and uncouple the link from the plunger.`

3. In a trip operating mechanism for power presses and the like, ahousing, a plunger slidably mounted therein and extending therefrom,yielding means drawing the plunger out of the housing, a trip actuatinglink telescoped within the plunger having a peripheral recess, theplunger having an opening adapted to register with the recess, acoupling ball in the opening normally extending intothe recess ltothereby hold the link inthe plunger, a sleeve slidably mounted on theplunger Yhaving an inclined shoulder normallyl engaging the exterior ofthe coupling ball to wedge it in said recess and lock the sleeve,plunger and link for longitudinal movementin unison, yielding meansbetweenthe plunger and sleeveY urging the sleeve into-locking position,and a skirt mounted on the` sleeve and extending toward the housing,said skirt being adjustable longitudinally on the sleeve to engage thehousing at a predetermined point in the travel ofthe sleeveto therebyuncouple the link from the plunger. i v

JAMES MACBLANE(

